Soliciting Comments on Discontinuing the Regional Weather Synopsis product from NOAA Weather Radio

TO: NOAA Weather Radio Listeners and other NWS Partners, Users, and Employees

FROM: Joe Moore, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service Duluth MN

SUBJECT: Soliciting comments on discontinuation of the Regional Weather Synopsis (BRT) product

The National Weather Service Office in Duluth, MN, is seeking comments through January 9, 2020, on the possible discontinuation of the Regional Weather Synopsis (BRT) product for NOAA Weather All Hazards Radio.

Currently, the Regional Weather Synopsis product is broadcast on NOAA Weather All Hazards Radio transmitters across northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin with a plain language overview of weather with a length of approximately one minute or less. This product has only been available on NOAA Weather Radio and has never been transmitted over the internet or through other dissemination means. With an increasing number of ways to receive weather information, both from National Weather Service websites, social media, and also through private sector websites, apps, and other means; the National Weather Service has determined that this product may no longer be needed. To be absolutely clear, we are NOT proposing getting rid of NOAA Weather Radio! We will continue to broadcast the current observations, forecasts, watches and warnings and more that you rely on. We are only proposing to remove a brief weather synopsis product that plays occasionally on the radio broadcast. For an example of the product as heard on the radio, please below.

If you have questions or concerns about the possible discontinuation of the Regional Weather Synopsis product, please contact:

Joe Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service Duluth, MN
218-729-6483 x726
joseph.moore@noaa.gov

REGIONAL WEATHER SYNOPSIS EXAMPLE:

HERE IS THE LATEST WEATHER SYNOPSIS. AS ONE CLIPPER ENDS ANOTHER
APPROACHES FROM THE WEST TOMORROW. TONIGHT LAKE EFFECT SNOWFALL
MAY LINGER AROUND WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR, BUT LITTLE ACCUMULATION
IS EXPECTED. A WARM FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST ON FRIDAY
LEADING TO WARMER TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF CLIPPER. SNOW STARTS FROM
WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY, WITH AROUND 1 TO 4 INCHES OF
SNOWFALL EXPECTED FOR MOST OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE ON THE NORTH SHORE WHERE LAKE
EFFECT SNOWFALL WILL CAUSE SOME HEAVY SNOWFALL RATES AND HIGHER
SNOW TOTALS FRIDAY NIGHT, WITH OVER SIX INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE
FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF SILVER BAY. HIGHS IN THE TEENS TO
20S ON FRIDAY. COLDER AIR RETURNS IN THE WAKE OF THE CLIPPER ON
SATURDAY WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES AND LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHIFTING
TO THE SOUTH SHORE.